What is the best way of getting between Helsinki and Tallinn, and is it feasible if my husband and I have booked the flights for a week in Helsinki? Deborah McQueen, Sterling

Sunday Times travel expert Richard Green responds: Would you believe that there are six different ferry companies plying that 50-mile stretch of sea? They offer up to 60 crossings a day, and between them carry six million passengers on the route annually?

The biggest operator by far is Estonia's Tallink (00 372 6409 808) and it has just launched two new ships; one the super fast "Star" for its "Shuttle" service, and the other a 2,000 passenger capacity "Superstar". They make the crossing in two hours, and return fares for foot passengers start at £36.

Next up is Finland's Viking Line (01942 262 662). It has also just added a new 2,500-passenger vessel called the XPRS, with a crossing time of 2hrs 30 minutes, and fares also from £36 return.

The Catamaran operator's speeds across in about 1 hour 40 minutes, and charge from about £45 return. They include Superseacat, Nordic Jet Line (00 372 6 137 000), and Linda Line Express (00 372 6 999 333). Bringing up the rear is the Eckero Line (+358 6000 4300) which charges £35 return, but has 27 year-old vessels that take 3hrs 30 minutes.

You can easily do a day trip on the ferries too, or you could mix and match a ferry with a flight, by using Copterline (00 358 200 18181) one way. Its helicopters take 18 minutes, and cost from £62.

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